St. John, 5 Players Make Women's Soccer All-League

INDIANAPOLIS - The Butler women's soccer
team was well-represented on the All-Horizon League teams, with
sophomore Katie Griswold and freshman Jackie Hafele capturing first
team All-Horizon League honors and senior Sarah Phelps getting
named second team. BU head coach Tari St. John was named Horizon
League Coach of the Year.

Furthermore, Hafele was named Horizon League Newcomer of the
Year and to the league's all-newcomer team along with twin sister
Nikki Hafele and Olivia Colosimo.

The accolades come after Butler went 6-2-0 in league play,
capturing the league's regular season title and No. 1 seed in next
week's Horizon League Women's Soccer Championship.

Griswold, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, was team team's leading
with 20 points (9g-2a). Her nine goals tied for second in the
league and she was fourth in the league in points. Four of
Griswold's goals came in league play, and she buried three-game
winning goals against conference opponents.

"This is really the product of the eight months of work Katie
put in since the end of last season, St. John said. "She has
improved so much as a soccer player and the best part is I don't
think we're even close to her potential."

Hafele, from Prospect, Ky., was the only freshman to be named
first team All-Horizon League en route to being named the
conference's top first-year player. She has nine points on the
season, coming on a team-high five assists in addition to two
goals. But it's the things she does outside the box score that
earned her the all-conference honor.

"Most people want to look at stats to determine a players
impact, but, in Jackie’s case, it is her commitment to
winning balls in the air that had the greatest impact," St. John
said. "She does a lot of things well for us but when Jackie
committed herself to being a ball-winner in the midfield, our team
found success in the second half of the season."

Phelps, an Indianapolis native and team leader in the back row
for the Bulldogs. She is a key piece
of Butler's defense, and has also chipped in two goals and two
assists on the year. Her game-winner on a PK against Cleveland
State was essentially the goal that clinched the regular season
title for BU.

"Sarah is one of the best soccer players I have ever had the
privilege of coaching," St. John said. "She understands the game at
such a high level. When 'Phelpsie' is not on the field for us, it
is very noticeable. It will be difficult to fill her shoes next
year."

Butler, a team of underclassmen this season that usually started
seven freshmen, placed three on the all-newcomer squad. In addition
to Jackie Hafele, Nikki Hafele and Olivia Colosimo were
recognized.

Nikki Hafele led the team in minutes played this season and never
came off the field during league play. She did have one goal this
season, but much like her sister, it's her impact within the game
that makes her stand out.

"I was happy Nikki was acknowledged by the conference coaches.
She does so many things for us that would not be detected in the
stat line," St. John said. "She has played every minute of our
conference matches. That is a lot to ask of a freshmen center-mid,
but Nikki was up for the task and did it quite well."

Colomiso, a skilled midfielder from Thunder Bay, Ontario,
started all 18 matches in the regular season and is second on the
team with 27 shots.

"Within one season, Olivia has improved her game so much. During
the second half of the season
she was so consistent and reliable for us," St. John said. "She
and Nikki work so well together. It’s exciting to think they
have three more seasons together."

St. John, in her fifth season as head coach at Butler, has done
her finest coaching job in 2010. The Bulldogs started 0-4 and would
be 3-9 before finding themselves and winning five of the final six
matches of the regular season. The coach kept a young,
injury-riddle team together and now will have home field advantage
in the league tournament.

"I have a lot of respect for my coaching colleagues in our
league and I am flattered by the selection. I like this award
because it is a representation of so many people…from our
assistant coaches, our team, our athletic trainer, the athletic
administration and the many soccer alumni that have helped build
this program," St. John said. "Everybody deserves some credit for
this honor and I’m happy to share it."